Canopy-support



Patented Fab. 2|, I899. J. c. WUODWARD.

CANOPY SUPPORT.

(Application filed Dec. 8,- 1896.)

(No Model.)

WE Noam: warms coy. FHOTO-L'ITHOV WASHINGTON 0. cv

UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CRAWFORD WOODW'ARD, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CANOPY-S UPPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,008, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filedDecember 3,1896. Serial No. 614,298. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJAMES CRAWFORD W001)- WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Canopy- Supports; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore canopy-frames for bedsteads have been constructed of fiexible steel wire bent into the form of a U and having its ends fixed to the corner-posts of the headboard, so that when the mosquito-nettin g is attached to its outer end it can be bent down and the netting allowed to fall over the bed in the manner shown and described in Patent No. 513,384, granted to Warren Cole, J r. February 6,1894. It has been found in practice that when thefree end of the flexible frame is lowered and the mosquito-netting attached thereto dragged over the top of the headboard the netting is likely to catch on the projections and become torn or injured, or it is likely tosag between the lowered end and the headboard and present an unsightly appearance or become otherwise deranged. To remedy these defects, I provide, in combination with an upright extension-frame, a fiexible frame supported in proximity to the point of attachment of the upright frame and capable of being bent from its point of support in a gradual curve in the direction of the opposite end of the bed from the point of support and approximately on a level at its upper end with the upper end of the upright frame, whereby the two frames cooperate with each other in the support of a nettingor canopy over the bed.

A further object of my invention is to construct the frame so that it can be adjusted vertically and laterally to apply to bedsteads of different widths and heights and at the same time be shaped for convenience in packing into a small space for shipping purposes.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar features and combinations of parts,

vof the stationary frame.

more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front perspective of my complete invention, covered with netting and lowered as in use, as applied to the head of an ordinary bedstead; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the frames raised, as when out of use as a canopy, but in use as a lambrequin.

The reference-number 1 denotes the vertical side rods, and 2 the cross-rod, of the U- shaped frame, all three of which are preferably constructed of steel wire. Offsets consisting of a lateral outward bend 3 and a downward prong 4 in the wire are formed at the lower ends of the side rods for the purpose of holding the latter out away from the projections on the corner-posts 5, to which they are attachable.

The means of attachment consist of vertical eyes 6, attachable to the corner-post. The downward prongs 4 are dropped through the eyes.

The side bars extend upward perfectly straight from the lateral bends to outwardlyprojecting U-shaped ears 7. The top prongs 7 of the ears terminate at a point lying sub stantially in the plane of the side bars, and each is connected to the cross-bar by an extensible joint formed of a tubular sleeve 8,

slipped snugly over the opposite ends of the bar. The length of the sleeves is sufficient to meet the range of probable variations in the width required of the frame.

The flexible U-shaped frame 9, adapted to cooperate with the stationary frame just described, is by preference secured at its lower ends to the same bracket which supports the lower ends of the other frame, and it consists of a single piece of steel wire having coiled springs bent out of the wire at the terminals, where they are secured to the bracket at the bedpost. The netting is secured to the free end 10 of this frame in such a Way as to fall over and cover the bed when lowered and to hang vertically from the frame when it is raised. The width of the frame 9 is slightly greater than the other frame, so that its side bars 11 will come in contact with the ears 7 It is also made longer than the stationary frame in order to reach out the required distance over the bed, and its free end is provided with a cord-loop 12 and tassel 13, by means of which the flexible frame is lowered. This loop catches over a button ll at the middle of the footboard 15 of the bed.

Thus constructed the operation of my device can be briefly described by stating that when the flexible frame 9 is in its normal position out of use it lies against the stationary frame and parallel therewith, so that the portion of the netting which serves as the top of the canopy when the frame is lowered will hang down behind the stationary frame and that part of the netting which hangs over the foot of the bed will fall in front of both frames and hide them from View. hen it is desired to lower the flexible frame to form a canopy, the cord on the free end thereof is grasped and the frame bent out over the bed into a substantially horizontal position. In this operation the flexible frame carries with it the netting, and the latter slides freely and easily over the top of the stationary frame, which holds it out in full width to form a flat top for the canopy. In the reversal of these operations the netting forming the top of the canopy can be slid back over the top of the stationary frame and behind it with much greater freedom and less liability to tear and injury to the netting than has heretofore been the case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a canopy-support, a substantially U- shaped frame adapted to be fixed to the end of a bedstead and provided with outwardly and laterally extending projections at the upper corners, in combination with a flexible U-shaped frame longer and wider than the other frame and arranged to swing toward and away from the fixed frame, and to overlap and bear against said projections, substantially as described.

2. In a canopy-support, a substantially U- shaped frame attachable to the head or foot portion of a bedstead, in combination with laterally-projecting loops at the upper corners, a detachable cross-bar extending between the loops and having a length substantially equal to the distance between the side bars, and sleeves fitting over the opposite ends of the cross-bar, and the ends of the wire of the loop at a point opposite the upper ends of the side rods, substantially as described.

3. In a canopy support, a substantially U- shaped frame having offsets at its lower ends attachable to the end of a bedstead, and laterally projecting loops at the upper corners, in combination with a flexible U -shaped frame wider and longer than the first frame and arranged to bear against the loops of the latter, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an upright extension-frame, of a flexible frame supported in proximity to the point of attachment of the upright frame and capable of being bent from its point of support in a gradual curve in the direction of the end of the bed opposite to the point of support and approximately on a level with the upper end of the upright frame, whereby the upper ends of the two frames cooperate with each other in the support of a netting or canopy over the bed.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CRAWFORD \VOODWAR-D.

Vitnesses:

R. W. AUSTIN, J. P. BROWN. 

